A Full Harvest After All

It might have traps and hidden weapons in the secret chamber, so it's too dangerous to go down rashly.

If it were someone of lower strength, they might have their subordinates scout ahead.

But Bai Yan himself was powerful, so he definitely couldn't let his subordinates take risks.

They had no grudges against each other, and Bai Yan wasn't so dark-hearted as to think of eliminating rivals. Besides, these were all his future confidants, and it would be a huge loss if they died.

Arranging for a subordinate to inform Zheng Haihan, Bai Yan took the lead, entering the secret tunnel with two teams of Imperial Guards.

The secret tunnel wasn't narrow; it was more than wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side, and the steps were paved with bluestone tiles.

Torches were placed on the stone walls on both sides for illumination, making the passage brightly lit.

Reaching the end of the tunnel, they were met with a huge stone door.

However, the activation mechanism next to the stone door had already been destroyed.

Looks like I'm a step too late!

Bai Yan sighed inwardly.

Now he finally understood why Su Leng Huan had arrived so late; she must have come to destroy the things in this secret chamber.

With this thought, Bai Yan gathered his true qi and struck the stone door with his palm.

After a loud rumbling sound, the stone door cracked open.

Revealing a passageway behind the stone door.

Bai Yan glanced at the passageway and the stone walls on either side, then casually drew a Spring Embroidered Saber from the waist of an Imperial Guard behind him.

With a swing of the saber, the Spring Embroidered Saber instantly shattered, turning into twenty to thirty blades that shot out.

With a series of whistling sounds, the blades embedded themselves into the passageway and the stone walls on both sides.

The traps were instantly triggered.

In an instant, countless arrows shot out from the stone walls on both sides of the secret tunnel, densely peppering the ground like a hedgehog.

The arrowheads were incredibly sharp, piercing several inches into the bluestone. Upon closer inspection, the arrowheads were coated with a layer of shiny black substance, clearly poisoned with a deadly toxin that sealed the throat upon contact with blood.

Even a mere scratch would be enough to cause instant death.

"That was close! It's a good thing you were alert, sir!"

Ren Hong said respectfully from the side.

"You are quick-witted, sir. Your subordinates are full of admiration!"

Li Kaiyao, fearing he would be left behind, quickly chimed in with flattery.

Bai Yan's expression was unreadable, and he said nothing as he led the group through the passageway.

At the end of the passageway was another stone door, and similarly, the mechanism to open it had been destroyed.

Bai Yan once again shattered the stone door with his palm, and a wave of heat immediately washed over them.

Behind this stone door was the real secret chamber, but it had now turned into an inferno.

Just as Bai Yan had guessed, they were a step too late.

The flames in the secret chamber raged, and the documents on the bookshelves had already turned to ash.

Sending people to extinguish the fire and rescue anything now would likely yield nothing useful.

"Oh no, we're too late!"

Ren Hong, Li Kaiyao, and the others were shocked and unwilling.

They had thought they found the Demonic Cult's secret base and could achieve great merit, but in the end, it was all for nothing.

"Let's go, there's nothing more to investigate here."

Bai Yan shook his head and turned to leave.

Based on the Demonic Cult's methods, Su Leng Huan wouldn't have shown herself if she hadn't already destroyed all the useful intelligence.

Since she dared to show herself, it meant this secret chamber had long lost its value.

Leaving the underground secret chamber, Bai Yan saw that Battalion Commander Zheng Haihan was already waiting outside.

"How was it? Any gains?"

Zheng Haihan asked.

Bai Yan shook his head, "The secret chamber was completely burned down by the fire, no clues whatsoever."

"Alas, what a shame."

Zheng Haihan also shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of regret.

After all the effort to dismantle a Demonic Cult base, to end up with nothing felt incomplete.

"It's alright, at least Xiao Yiping and Su Leng Huan are still in our hands."

Bai Yan smiled.

"We should be able to get some useful intel from those two."

"Let's hope so."

Zheng Haihan nodded slightly and raised his voice to give the order:

"Disband the team!"

At his command, hundreds of Imperial Guards majestically withdrew from Yiping Villa.

In the rear, Imperial Guards, in pairs, carried large wooden chests sealed with tape. These were the spoils of the raid.

A portion of these would be handed over to the national treasury, while another part would remain with the Pacification Bureau as rewards.

Of course, many of the Enforcers responsible for the raid had already made a fortune.

Bai Yan saw that their arms were stuffed full, clearly indicating they had pocketed quite a few good items.

They say that ten years as an Imperial Guard is not as profitable as one raid.

With a little bit of searching, one could strike it rich.

This raid was only on a Demonic Cult stronghold, so the profits weren't that substantial.

If they were raiding the homes of corrupt officials, that would truly be exhilarating.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The moment the team stepped out of the main gate of Yiping Villa, two projectiles were fired with lightning speed towards Xiao Yiping and Su Leng Huan.

It was clear that this was an attempt to silence them.

"How dare you!"

Zheng Haihan reacted with incredible speed. With a slight shift of his body, he raised his hand and caught one of the projectiles.

Bai Yan's reaction was just as swift. He reached out and caught a three-inch Golden Dart between his fingers, using the Spiritual Rhinoceros Finger technique.

The assassin in hiding clearly understood the art of assassination. Having missed their first strike, they had no intention of lingering and immediately fled.

By the time Zheng Haihan and Bai Yan looked up, the assailant's figure had already vanished into the distance.

The commotion caused by the Imperial Guards earlier was not small. Now, there were many civilians and martial artists gathered outside Yiping Villa, a mixed crowd where it was impossible to tell how many Demonic Cult rebels were still lurking among them.

A rash pursuit might fall into a trap to lure them away. Therefore, neither Zheng Haihan nor Bai Yan moved.

"Return directly to the Pacification Bureau!"

Zheng Haihan's expression was stern. His eyes, like lightning, swept across the surroundings. Internal energy surged in his palm, crushing the Golden Dart into powder.

Afterward, everyone rushed back to the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau at top speed.

Upon returning to the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau, Bai Yan happened to see another Battalion Commander leading his team back.

However, unlike Bai Yan and his group who returned with the glory of a great victory, the other team's faces were grim, filled with a sense of defeat.

It seemed their mission had failed.

"Lord Zheng, you've taken the lead again this time."

The middle-aged Battalion Commander looked at Zheng Haihan and clasped his hands in greeting, his tone full of envy.

"Hahahaha, it was just good luck. We were fortunate enough to capture a Heavenly Gang Hall Master, so it's not a major haul."

Zheng Haihan stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

Although he was being modest, the smugness on his face was unconcealed.

Even though they had found nothing in the secret room, managing to capture Su Leng Huan alive was already a great achievement.

Compared to the other Imperial Guard teams who returned empty-handed, they were the most triumphant.

Zheng Haihan swaggered into the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau, leading his team. The Battalion Commander watched Zheng Haihan's retreating back and couldn't help but curse inwardly:

"That old fox is too lucky!"

"Why don't these good things ever happen to me?"

As he spoke, the Battalion Commander glanced back at the four Company Commanders behind him and began to reprimand them:

"It's all because you useless lot are too incompetent! You're all Company Commanders, so why is there such a huge difference!"

"Look at Bai Yan, then look at yourselves. Sigh... forget it... I can't be bothered to say anything more..."

He was filled with helplessness at that moment.

What could he do with such useless subordinates? He couldn't just get rid of them.

The four Company Commanders had suffered an undeserved reprimand, their eyes blank, a large question mark hovering over their heads.

Battalion Commander, do you even hear what you're saying!

The Demonic Cult fiends received the news and retreated in advance. We only found an empty shell when we arrived. What does this have to do with our abilities!

The four Company Commanders wore looks of distress.

They wanted to retort but dared not speak, so they could only endure it in silence.

Sigh, what do I do with such a difficult superior? I really want to switch jobs.

[Ding, detected that the host has successfully destroyed a Demonic Cult stronghold and captured a Heavenly Gang Hall Master, completing the Demon Subjugation mission. Do you wish to claim your reward?]

The moment Bai Yan stepped through the main gate of the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau, the system's pleasant notification chimed.